What are diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is the damage of nerves in the foot caused by diabetes.
This comes about because of inadequate flow of blood into your legs. When there is a scratch and there is inadequate flow of blood into the wound site, it can develop into a wound and if care is not taken, it might develop into a gangrene. Gangrene is the death of tissue.
some of the causes of neuropathy could be Physical trauma. Physical trauma can cause injury to the nerves.
Complications of Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy can cause nerve damage.
Some of the factors that will increase the risk of developing neuropathy include:
- Hyperglycemia
- Being overweight
- Being older than 40 years
- Having high blood pressure
- Having high cholesterol
Nerve damage which is diabetic neuropathy, in conjunction with poor blood flow(peripheral neuropathy) could occur.
Nerve damage caused by diabetes is one of the most common forms of neuropathy. It can lead to numbness, pain, and loss of sensation in the limbs.
People with the following issues are at an increase risk of having neuropathy:
- are overweight
- have high blood pressure
- are over the age of 40
- have diabetes
More than 60% of individuals living with diabetes have some sort of nerve damage.
This damage is often due to high blood sugar levels.
Periphery neuropathy is a disorder that occurs when these nerves malfunction because they’re damaged or destroyed. This disrupts the nerves’ normal functioning. They might send signals of pain when there’s nothing causing pain, or they might not send a pain signal even if something is harming you. This can be due to:
- an injury
- systemic illness
- an infection
- an inherited disorder
Some other diabetic neuropathy causes
- kidney disorders resulting in which high amount of toxins build up which damage nerve tissue
- hypothyroidism,–when the body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, leading to fluid retention and pressure surrounding nerve tissues
- diseases that cause chronic inflammation and can spread to the nerves or damage connective tissue surrounding nerves
- deficiencies of vitamins E,B1,B6,B12, which are essential to nerve health and functioning
Complications of Diabetic neuropathy
- Skin and bone infections.
- Abscess.
- Gangrene. Diabetes affects the blood vessels that supply your fingers and toes. When blood flow is cut off, tissue can die.
- Deformities. .
- Charcot foot.
- Amputation.
Diabetes Foot Care Tips
Diabetic foot care is vital for your wellbeing. As diabetes can damage to your feet. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling or sensations from the feet.
Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection.
You must practice good food hygiene to avoid issues with your limbs
Always inspect your feet
moisturize the feet
take good care of your feet
wear clean socks
keep your feet warm and dry
always try to maintain the blood sugar.
Massage your foot
Go for detoxification care and diabetes care kit
for diabetic foot care
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